Overclock Help!

[marcusrivera]

Can you help me safely overclock my PC, I'm interested in a more intense gaming experience...

Specs:
Windows XP Professional 2002v
AMD Athlon XP 2400+
K7VTA3
Radeon 9700 Pro

system currently running at 1.99 GHz

Ill need step-by-step instructions, because I've never done this before...

Regards,
Marcus

[Staz]

ECS boards are known as not having any overclocking features. You can go to the files section and download powerstrip and overclock that video card though.

[marcusrivera]

Much obliged with your timely response

Regards,
Marcus

[marcusrivera]

Okay, I’ve just installed PowerStrip on my system.

Q. What “Quick setup” Changes should I make?

[bETAbILLY]

How much memory you got?........If less than 512meg, buy more. Thats the only way you'll improve matters on your system.

[Staz]

It has been awhile since I used powerstrip. You don't want to make any sudden changes though. Just start raising the memory clock a few MHz at a time, like 4 or 6 to get started. Keep running a video benchmark after each time you raise it. Kepp raising it and running the benchmark (I sugest Aquamark or 3DMark) until you get errors like artifacts or tearing. Then back it down to it's last stable setting and back it off 2 more MHz just for stabilities sake.

Then once you have found your max Memory speed put the mem back to stock and start upping the core speed. Do the same that you did with the mem until you find the highest stable core speed.

Most video cards won't run max mem and max core at the same time, one must be backed off a little for stability. So you need to set the mem at max speed and see how high you can get the core with the mem maxed out. Then check and see what your benchmark score was. Then set the core to max and check to see what the best mem speed you can get the core maxed out. Again check your benchmark score and decide which overclock helps you out the most.

Good luck.

[marcusrivera]

Okay Staz,

I'm on it!

I'll keep you posted...

[marcusrivera]

bETAbilly,

I have 512MB of memory, in terms of game action, what could I expect if I were to double my memory?

[RussianMissile1]

faster loading times, slightly smoother gameplay. but it all depends on the game youre playing.

[Staz]

I would not double the memory if you already have 512. You would get a much better bang for your buck if you invested in an nForce 2 mobo meant for overclocking and a high quality air cooling set up.

[kimber]

a gig of memory on that system will make a difference.
what buss speed you running?

[Staz]

Originally Posted by kimber

a gig of memory on that system will make a difference.
what buss speed you running?

I'm not saying that another 512 of mem wouldn't help, it would. I am just sating that a 2400+ that runs at 2.0GHz runs on a 133MHz FSB. And I'm not sure but I think his mobo is single chanle. I am saying that getting a mobo that can up the FSB and raise core speed will give him more performance than just throwing in another 512.

[kimber]

well after doing some reading up on your motherboard it appears your chances of getting any real overclock slim.

there are no voltage settings, the bare minimum memory timing settings, and merely 4 settings for FSB clock frequency (with the FSB jumper set to 133MHz): 120MHz, 133MHz, 140MHz, 150MHz.

Pushing the FSB up to 140MHz caused the system to crash after about 2 hours of load, and at 150MHz, the system crashed after about a half hour

it looks like your at about your limits now.not that thats all that bad.

[SteveI]

I like Staz's advice... For $60-75, you can get a good overclocking socket A mobo that will be much more flexible and be able to overclock well. This is the best bang for the buck. It will help you in all ways, where the additional ram will only make a difference when needed.... not all apps need that much memory, or even know what to do with it.

[kimber]

i'm sure you guys are right but that puts alot of other issues up such as his current ram qaulity and qaunity(if your going daul channel mb you need 2 sticks of ram),processor steppng and heatsink,power supply,ect.,ect..so going a new mb alone may do knothing at all for performance and will probably end up costing more than that original 80ish for a motherboard.nothing is ever written in stone in oc'n so i only like to give advice on the known varibles.and without knowing more about his actaul componets its almost impossible to estimate how much a mb will help.
were as another 512 of ram definetly will.
on my system going from 512 to 1 gig made a bigger diff than when i went from my xp1700(@2 gig) to my mobile 2500 @2.5.and it helped everything from general apps to games to loading speeds.